**Brazil's Controversial Development Law Threatens Amazon Conservation, UN Expert Warns**

A UN special rapporteur has expressed deep concerns over a recently passed Brazilian law, which is criticized for jeopardizing environmental protections and risking human rights violations. The law, aimed at expediting approvals for infrastructure and development projects, has been labeled the “devastation bill” by critics who fear it could exacerbate deforestation in the Amazon—a region already under threat from agricultural and mining industries.

The Brazilian Congress has simplified regulations that allow certain developers to self-declare their environmental impacts, a move intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles but met with skepticism regarding its potential environmental repercussions. UN expert Astrid Puentes Riaño highlighted the risks associated with lighter regulations, especially regarding automatic renewal of licenses that bypass necessary environmental impact assessments. She suggested that such measures could lead to unchecked deforestation, mismanagement of resources, and erosion of indigenous rights. The bill is currently awaiting President Lula da Silva's approval, with environmental advocates alarmed that it may represent a significant backward step in environmental governance amidst increasing climate pressures observed in the region.

Critics emphasize that the law could contradict Brazil's constitutional commitments to an ecologically balanced environment, provoking potential legal disputes. The opposition to the bill includes notable figures, including Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva, who decries the reforms as detrimental to crucial environmental safeguards. As the deadline for presidential decision looms, advocacy groups remain vigilant regarding the implications of this legislative shift for the Amazon and its inhabitants.